Spooky Season is officially upon us! I live in the north east, so as soon as the weather turns crisp and the leaves start falling, I wrap up in a cozy blanket and reach for a chilling read. Although, most of the time I don’t need any excuse to dive into a good spooky mystery. Here is a list of my favorites that I have picked up recently.
Erica Waters has become an automatic read for me. I loved her first two books and this one did not disappoint. It is less scary and more atmospheric and creepy, but still a great read for spooky season.
In The Restless Dark, three girls find themselves in a contest to find the bones of a series killer, all for different reasons. The characters are compelling, the setting is creepy and the pages turn fast!
The Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall is one to read with the lights on. This book actually scared me and left me jumping at every sound in the house. It it told in a mix of found footage, interviews and narrative, which I wasn’t sure of at first, but worked oh so well!
One year after Sara’s sister vanished, the road appears. The group of friends must follow the rules if they want to survive. If you want a chill down your spin, pick up this book! I have never read anything quite like it, and I absolutely love it!
The Broken Girls by Simone St James was a more traditional ghost story with unexpected twists. The story takes place between two time lines one in the 1950s the other in present day, weaved together expertly. Right when you think you know where the story is going it really surprises you.
This book is atmospheric mixed with dark academia, sprinkled with historical fiction and modern day murder mystery.
A year after her sister’s death, Fiona is still trying to uncover the mystery surrounding it. Her body was left at an abandoned girls school that had a troubled past of its own.
My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix has it all, 80s nostalgia, classic horror, powerful friendships and even some gross out gore. Now an Amazon Prime original movie, this book really hits all of the spooky season must haves. It is creepy, while at the same time hilarious. Gross while heartfelt.
After going missing for a night, Gretchen comes back different…even evil. It is up to Abby to somehow get her best friend back. Hendrix has a knack for playing on classic tropes with a new, fresh spin. I would also recomend The Souther Book Club Guide to Slaying Vampires, and We Sold Our Souls.
Let me know in the comments what spooky, halloween read is your favorite! Happy spooky season!